Employment

Who We Are

The Writing Center’s mission is to empower students by helping them develop writing and critical thinking skills.  We achieve this mission through one-on-one consultations and in-class workshops.  We promote open-mindedness, curiosity, and self-confidence, and we are committed to practicing inclusive pedagogy.

Job responsibilities

Writing Center consultants typically work with students individually in consultations, providing feedback on academic essays, cover letters, application materials, and so forth.  New consultants receive initial training, and all consultants attend regular staff meetings with a focus on professional development.

In Fall 2024, new consultants will work in-person on the University Park Campus.

Compensation & Schedule

Compensation is $25 per hour.

New consultants usually work ten hours per week, although graduate students holding full Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, or fellowships are limited to five hours per week.

Eligibility

To work at the Writing Center, you must:

• Be enrolled full-time in a USC graduate program
• Attend an in-person training on August 21, 2024.  If the orientation conflicts with another training scheduled by the university or your department, contact us to discuss.
• Because of visa restrictions, international graduate students with full Teaching/Research Assistantships or fellowships are not eligible for additional on-campus employment.

Qualifications

Some teaching, tutoring, editing, or mentoring experience at the high-school or college level is required.

We welcome applicants from all academic disciplines.  We are particularly interested to hear from those with a background in science or business writing, as well as those who have experience working with non-native speakers of English.

Application materials

To apply, please send the following materials to writing@usc.edu:

• A current C.V.
• A cover letter describing your relevant experience and your interest in the Writing Center.  The cover letter is the most important part of your initial application.  We are eager to learn about your experience as a teacher, tutor, or mentor.  We would also like to know how ideas about diversity, equity, and inclusion inform your teaching/tutoring.
• A writing sample of academic or professional work (5 – 10 pages).  Ideally, the submission will represent a genre in which you are comfortable writing and coaching others.  If you are a creative writer, feel free to submit a piece, but please include academic or professional writing in your application, as well.

Our Hiring Process

Once the Writing Center reviews materials, selected applicants will be contacted for interviews.  We would love to meet you in person but can arrange an interview by Zoom if necessary.  Before making any offer of employment, the Writing Center will contact the applicant’s DGS (Director of Graduate Studies) for a reference.  If students on a full Teaching/Research Assistantship or fellowship are offered employment, they will need to seek permission to work from their home department and the Graduate School (via a form provided by USC).

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.